U.S. patent number 9,393,376 [Application Number 13/768,514] was granted by the patent office on 2016-07-19 for airway adaptor and biological information acquiring system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION. The grantee listed for this patent is NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Masayuki Inoue, Yoshinobu Ono.
United States Patent |
9,393,376 |
Inoue , et al. |
July 19, 2016 |
Airway adaptor and biological information acquiring system
Abstract
An airway adaptor includes: an airway case including a gas
passage, the airway case adapted to be attachable to a part of a
carbon dioxide sensor configured to detect a concentration of
carbon dioxide contained in exhalation, flowing into the gas
passage, of the subject, the exhalation; a nasal cannula having a
pair of insertion portions inserted into nostrils of the subject to
guide exhalation from the nostrils to the gas passage; a mouth
guide placed in front of a mouth of the subject to guide exhalation
from the mouth to the gas passage; a light-emitting element
supported by one of the insertion portions; and a light-receiving
element supported by the other of the insertion portions. When the
insertion portions are inserted into the nostrils, the
light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are opposed
to each other across a nasal septum of the subject.
Inventors: |
Inoue; Masayuki (Tokyo,
JP), Ono; Yoshinobu (Tokyo, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
(Tokyo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
47826929 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/768,514 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20130231540 A1 |
Sep 5, 2013 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 5, 2012 [JP] |
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2012-048223 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
5/097 (20130101); A61B 5/14552 (20130101); A61M
16/0858 (20140204); A61B 5/082 (20130101); A61B
5/682 (20130101); A61B 5/6819 (20130101); A61B
5/01 (20130101); A61M 16/0488 (20130101); A61M
16/0666 (20130101); A61M 16/085 (20140204); A61M
2230/205 (20130101); A61B 5/083 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
5/097 (20060101); A61M 16/08 (20060101); A61B
5/1455 (20060101); A61B 5/08 (20060101); A61M
16/06 (20060101); A61B 5/01 (20060101); A61B
5/00 (20060101); A61M 16/04 (20060101); A61M
16/00 (20060101); A61B 5/083 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1646054 |
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Jul 2005 |
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CN |
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101432036 |
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May 2009 |
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CN |
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101516300 |
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Aug 2009 |
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CN |
|
1 804 872 |
|
Jul 2007 |
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EP |
|
8-233806 |
|
Sep 1996 |
|
JP |
|
2007-54594 |
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Mar 2007 |
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JP |
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2007-518480 |
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Jul 2007 |
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JP |
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2009-172347 |
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Aug 2009 |
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JP |
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2011-115543 |
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Jun 2011 |
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JP |
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Other References
Extended European Search Report for the related European Patent
Application No. 13156802.4 dated Aug. 29, 2013. cited by applicant
.
Japanese Office Action for the related Japanese Patent Application
No. 2012-048223 dated Aug. 4, 2015. cited by applicant .
Chinese Office Action for the related Chinese Patent Application
No. 201310059852.3 dated Nov. 30, 2015. cited by applicant .
Japanese Office action for Application No. 2012-048223 dated Mar.
22, 2016. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Marmor, II; Charles A
Assistant Examiner: Cox; Thaddeus
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pearne & Gordon LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An airway adaptor which is adapted to be attached to a face of a
subject, the airway adaptor comprising: an airway case which
includes a gas passage, the airway case adapted to be attachable to
a part of a carbon dioxide sensor configured to detect a
concentration of carbon dioxide contained in exhalation of the
subject, the exhalation flowing into the gas passage, the part of
the carbon dioxide sensor including a first light-emitting element
and a first light-receiving element; a nasal cannula having a pair
of insertion portions which are adapted to be inserted respectively
into nostrils of the subject to guide exhalation from the nostrils
to the gas passage when the airway adaptor is attached to the face;
a mouth guide adapted to be placed in front of a mouth of the
subject to guide exhalation from the mouth to the gas passage when
the airway adaptor is attached to the face; a second light-emitting
element supported by one of the pair of insertion portions; and a
second light-receiving element supported by the other of the pair
of insertion portions, wherein when the pair of insertion portions
are inserted into the nostrils of the subject, the second
light-emitting element and the second light-receiving element are
opposed to each other across a nasal septum of the subject, and the
second light-receiving element operates as a part of a temperature
sensor for acquiring body temperature of the subject.
2. The airway adaptor according to claim 1, wherein at least a part
of the pair of insertion portions is elastically deformable, the
part being to be opposed to the nasal septum.
3. The airway adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the nasal
cannula includes a branch gas passage which is configured to guide
a pressure generated by the exhalation from the nostrils to a
pressure sensor.
4. A biological information acquiring system comprising: an airway
case which is adapted to be attached to a face of a subject, and
which includes a gas passage; a carbon dioxide sensor which is
attached to the airway case, and which is configured to detect a
concentration of carbon dioxide contained in exhalation of the
subject, the exhalation flowing into the gas passage, the carbon
dioxide sensor including a first light-emitting element and a first
light-receiving element; an arterial oxygen saturation sensor which
is configured to detect an arterial oxygen saturation of the
subject; a nasal cannula having a pair of insertion portions which
are adapted to be inserted respectively into nostrils of the
subject to guide exhalation from the nostrils to the gas passage
when the airway case is attached to the face; a mouth guide adapted
to be placed in front of a mouth of the subject to guide exhalation
from the mouth to the gas passage when the airway case is attached
to the face; a second light-emitting element supported by one of
the pair of insertion portions; and a second light-receiving
element supported by the other of the pair of insertion portions,
wherein when the pair of insertion portions are inserted into the
nostrils of the subject, the second light-emitting element and the
second light-receiving element are opposed to each other across a
nasal septum of the subject to operate as a part of the arterial
oxygen saturation sensor, and the second light-receiving element
operates as a part of a temperature sensor for acquiring body
temperature of the subject.
5. The biological information acquiring system according to claim
4, wherein at least a part of the pair of insertion portions is an
elastically deformable portion, the part being to be opposed to the
nasal septum.
6. The biological information acquiring system according to claim
4, further comprising: a pressure sensor, wherein the nasal cannula
includes a branch gas passage which is configured to guide a
pressure generated by the exhalation from the nostrils to the
pressure sensor.
7. A biological information acquiring system comprising: a pressure
sensor; an arterial oxygen saturation sensor configured to detect
an arterial oxygen saturation of a subject; a nasal cannula having:
a pair of insertion portions which are adapted to be inserted
respectively into nostrils of the subject; and a gas passage which
is configured to guide a pressure generated by exhalation from the
nostrils to the pressure sensor, the gas passage communicating with
gas passages formed in respective interiors of the pair of
insertion portions; a light-emitting element supported by an
interior of one of the pair of insertion portions; and a
light-receiving element supported by an interior of the other of
the pair of insertion portions, wherein when the pair of insertion
portions are inserted into the nostrils of the subject, the
light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are opposed
to each other across a nasal septum of the subject to operate as a
part of the arterial oxygen saturation sensor, at least a part of
the pair of insertion portions is formed as an elastically
deformable portion, the part being to be opposed to the nasal
septum, and the light-receiving element operates as a part of a
temperature sensor for acquiring body temperature of the
subject.
8. A biological information acquiring system comprising: a carbon
dioxide sensor configured to detect a concentration of carbon
dioxide contained in exhalation of a subject, the carbon dioxide
sensor including a first light-emitting element and a first
light-receiving element; an arterial oxygen saturation sensor
configured to detect an arterial oxygen saturation of the subject;
a nasal cannula having: a pair of insertion portions which are
adapted to be inserted respectively into nostrils of the subject;
and a gas passage which is configured to guide a pressure generated
by exhalation from the nostrils to the carbon dioxide sensor; a
second light-emitting element supported by an interior of one of
the pair of insertion portions; and a second light-receiving
element supported by an interior of the other of the pair of
insertion portions, wherein when the pair of insertion portions are
inserted into the nostrils of the subject, the second
light-emitting element and the second light-receiving element are
opposed to each other across a nasal septum of the subject to
operate as a part of the arterial oxygen saturation sensor, and at
least a part of the pair of insertion portions is formed as an
elastically deformable portion, the part being to be opposed to the
nasal septum, and the second light-receiving element operates as a
part of a temperature sensor for acquiring body temperature of the
subject.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from prior Japanese patent application No. 2012-048223, filed on
Mar. 5, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to an airway adaptor
which is attached to the face of the subject to collect the
exhalation, and also to a system for acquiring various kinds of
biological information by using the airway adaptor.
There is a system for acquiring the concentration of carbon dioxide
contained in the exhalation of the subject, as an example of
biological information. JP-A-8-233806 discloses a biological
information acquiring system in which light-emitting and
light-receiving elements that function as a part of a carbon
dioxide sensor are attached to an airway adaptor. A gas passage
provided in the airway adaptor extends so as to cross the space
between the light-emitting and light-receiving elements, and the
exhalation of the subject directly flows into the gas passage.
The light-emitting element emits light which is absorbed by carbon
dioxide (for example, infrared light). The intensity of light which
reaches the light-receiving element differs depending on the
concentration of carbon dioxide contained in the exhalation of the
subject. When a signal which is output from the light-receiving
element, and which corresponds to the intensity is monitored,
therefore, it is possible to acquire the concentration of the
carbon dioxide.
As another example of biological information, there is a system for
acquiring the arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) of the subject. The
arterial oxygen saturation is an index indicating the amount of
oxygen which is supplied into the blood. JP-A-2007-54594 discloses
a biological information acquiring system in which light-emitting
and light-receiving elements that function as a part of an arterial
oxygen saturation sensor are opposed to each other across the
fingertip of the subject.
The light-emitting element emits red and infrared light beams. The
intensities of light beams which reach the light-receiving element
differ depending on the ratio of hemoglobin combined with oxygen in
the blood. When a signal which is output from the light-receiving
element, and which corresponds to the intensities is monitored,
therefore, it is possible to acquire the arterial oxygen
saturation.
A further example of biological information to be acquired is the
respiratory volume of the subject. As a method of acquiring the
respiratory volume, there is a method in which a tube connected to
a pressure sensor is attached to the nostril or mouth of the
subject, and a pressure variation in the tube which is produced by
respiration is detected by the pressure sensor.
As described above, in order to acquire various kinds of biological
information, devices which correspond to respective kinds of
biological information, such as a sensor element and a tube must be
attached to various places of the body of the subject. Therefore,
the attaching work requires much labor, and the subject to whom
many devices are attached feels strong botheration.
SUMMARY
The presently disclosed subject matter may provide a technique in
which, in the case where a plurality of kinds of biological
information are to be acquired, the work of attaching devices to
the subject can be efficiently performed, and botheration that is
felt by the subject can be suppressed.
There is provided an airway adaptor which is adapted to be attached
to a face of a subject, the airway adaptor comprising: an airway
case which includes a gas passage, the airway case adapted to be
attachable to a part of a carbon dioxide sensor configured to
detect a concentration of carbon dioxide contained in exhalation of
the subject, the exhalation flowing into the gas passage; a nasal
cannula having a pair of insertion portions which are adapted to be
inserted respectively into nostrils of the subject to guide
exhalation from the nostrils to the gas passage when the airway
adaptor is attached to the face; a mouth guide adapted to be placed
in front of a mouth of the subject to guide exhalation from the
mouth to the gas passage when the airway adaptor is attached to the
face; a light-emitting element supported by one of the pair of
insertion portions; and a light-receiving element supported by the
other of the pair of insertion portions, wherein when the pair of
insertion portions are inserted into the nostrils of the subject,
the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are
opposed to each other across a nasal septum of the subject.
At least a part of the pair of insertion portions may be
elastically deformable, the part being to be opposed to the nasal
septum.
The nasal cannula may include a branch gas passage which is
configured to guide a pressure generated by the exhalation from the
nostrils to a pressure sensor.
There is also provided a biological information acquiring system
comprising: an airway case which is adapted to be attached to a
face of a subject, and which includes a gas passage; a carbon
dioxide sensor which is attached to the airway case, and which is
configured to detect a concentration of carbon dioxide contained in
exhalation of the subject, the exhalation flowing into the gas
passage; an arterial oxygen saturation sensor which is configured
to detect an arterial oxygen saturation of the subject; a nasal
cannula having a pair of insertion portions which are adapted to be
inserted respectively into nostrils of the subject to guide
exhalation from the nostrils to the gas passage when the airway
case is attached to the face; a mouth guide adapted to be placed in
front of a mouth of the subject to guide exhalation from the mouth
to the gas passage when the airway case is attached to the face; a
light-emitting element supported by one of the pair of insertion
portions; and a light-receiving element supported by the other of
the pair of insertion portions, wherein when the pair of insertion
portions are inserted into the nostrils of the subject, the
light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are opposed
to each other across a nasal septum of the subject to operate as a
part of the arterial oxygen saturation sensor.
The biological information acquiring system may further include a
pressure sensor, and the nasal cannula may include a branch gas
passage which is configured to guide a pressure generated by the
exhalation from the nostrils to the pressure sensor.
The light-receiving element may operate as a part of a temperature
sensor.
There is also provided a biological information acquiring system
comprising: a pressure sensor; an arterial oxygen saturation sensor
configured to detect an arterial oxygen saturation of a subject; a
nasal cannula having: a pair of insertion portions which are
adapted to be inserted respectively into nostrils of the subject;
and a gas passage which is configured to guide a pressure generated
by exhalation from the nostrils to the pressure sensor; a
light-emitting element supported by an interior of one of the pair
of insertion portions; and a light-receiving element supported by
an interior of the other of the pair of insertion portions, wherein
when the pair of insertion portions are inserted into the nostrils
of the subject, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving
element are opposed to each other across a nasal septum of the
subject to operate as a part of the arterial oxygen saturation
sensor, and at least a part of the pair of insertion portions is
formed as an elastically deformable portion, the part being to be
opposed to the nasal septum.
There is also provided a biological information acquiring system
comprising: a carbon dioxide sensor configured to detect a
concentration of carbon dioxide contained in exhalation of a
subject; an arterial oxygen saturation sensor configured to detect
an arterial oxygen saturation of the subject; a nasal cannula
having: a pair of insertion portions which are adapted to be
inserted respectively into nostrils of the subject; and a gas
passage which is configured to guide a pressure generated by
exhalation from the nostrils to the carbon dioxide sensor; a
light-emitting element supported by an interior of one of the pair
of insertion portions; and a light-receiving element supported by
an interior of the other of the pair of insertion portions, wherein
when the pair of insertion portions are inserted into the nostrils
of the subject, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving
element are opposed to each other across a nasal septum of the
subject to operate as a part of the arterial oxygen saturation
sensor, and at least a part of the pair of insertion portions is
formed as an elastically deformable portion, the part being to be
opposed to the nasal septum.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where an airway
adaptor of a first embodiment of the presently disclosed subject
matter is attached to the face of the subject.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the internal
configuration of the airway adaptor of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view enlargedly illustrating the
internal configuration of a nasal tube of the airway adaptor of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration
of a biological information acquiring system of the first
embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where an airway
adaptor of a second embodiment of the presently disclosed subject
matter is attached to the face of the subject.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the internal
configuration of the airway adaptor of FIG. 5
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view enlargedly illustrating the
internal configuration of a nasal tube of the airway adaptor of
FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration
of a biological information acquiring system of the second
embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state where an airway
adaptor of a third embodiment of the presently disclosed subject
matter is attached to the face of the subject.
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view enlargedly illustrating
the internal configuration of a nasal tube of the airway adaptor of
FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
configuration of a biological information acquiring system of the
third embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. In the drawings which will be referenced in the following
description, the scale is adequately changed in order to draw
components in a recognizable size.
FIG. 1 shows a state where an airway adaptor 10 of a biological
information acquiring system 11 of a first embodiment of the
presently disclosed subject matter is attached to the face 3 of the
subject 2. The airway adaptor 10 includes an airway case 20, a
nasal cannula 30, and a mouth guide 40.
As shown in FIG. 2, a first light-emitting element 51 and a first
light-receiving element 52 are detachably attached to the airway
case 20. In the embodiment, the first light-emitting element 51 is
a light-emitting diode, and the first light-receiving element 52 is
a photodiode.
A gas passage 21 which extends so as to cross the space between the
first light-emitting element 51 and the first light-receiving
element 52 is formed in the airway case 20. A part of the gas
passage 21 is partitionedly formed by a pair of antifog films 22.
When the first light-emitting element 51 and the first
light-receiving element 52 are attached to the airway case 20, the
light-emitting surface of the first light-emitting element, and the
light-receiving surface of the first light-receiving element are
opposed to the respective antifog films 22.
The nasal cannula 30 is made of a soft material such as silicone
rubber or elastomer, and has a pair of insertion portions 31, 32.
The interiors of the insertion portions 31, 32 are formed as hollow
gas passages 33, 34, respectively, and, in a basal end portion 35,
form a confluent portion 36. The basal end portion 35 is fixed to
the upper surface 20a of the airway case 20, and the confluent
portion 36 communicates with the gas passage 21 through an opening
which is formed in the upper surface 20a of the airway case 20.
When the airway adaptor 10 is attached to the face 3 of the subject
2, the pair of insertion portions 31, 32 are inserted into the
nostrils 4 of the subject 2. The exhalation from the nostrils 4 is
guided to the gas passage 21 of the airway case 20 through the gas
passages 33, 34 and the confluent portion 36.
The mouth guide 40 is swingably supported through a support shaft
41 in a lower portion 20b of the airway case 20. An inner space 43
which is partitionedly formed by a dome-like body portion 42
communicates with the gas passage 21 through an opening which is
formed in the lower portion 20b of the airway case 20.
When the airway adaptor 10 is attached to the face 3 of the subject
2, the body portion 42 of the mouth guide 40 is placed in front of
the mouth 5 of the subject 2. The exhalation from the mouth 5 is
guided to the gas passage 21 through the inner space 43. When the
body portion 42 is swung in the anteroposterior direction about the
support shaft 41, the position of a peripheral portion 44 of the
body portion 42 with respect to the mouth 5 of the subject 2 can be
adjusted. The distance between the peripheral portion 44 and the
mouth 5 is adequately adjusted so that an appropriate volume of the
exhalation is guided to the gas passage 21.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration
of a biological information acquiring system 1 of the embodiment.
The first light-emitting element 51 and the first light-receiving
element 52 are communicably connected to a carbon dioxide
concentration acquirer 101 of a processing apparatus 100 through
lead wires 53, 54, respectively. The carbon dioxide concentration
acquirer 101 is communicably connected to a controller 102.
In accordance with instructions from the controller 102, the carbon
dioxide concentration acquirer 101 outputs a light-emitting signal.
The light-emitting signal is supplied to the first light-emitting
element 51 through the lead wire 53, and a light beam (infrared
light beam) having a predetermined wavelength is emitted from the
first light-emitting element 51.
The light beam emitted from the first light-emitting element 51
propagates across the gas passage 21 to be received by the first
light-receiving element 52. The first light-receiving element 52 is
configured so as to output an output signal corresponding to the
intensity of the received light, to the lead wire 54.
When the exhalation from at least one of the nostrils 4 and mouth 5
of the subject 2 is guided to the gas passage 21 of the airway case
20, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the gas passage 21 is
increased. Then, the received-light intensity of the first
light-receiving element 52 is lowered, and also the state of the
output signal is changed. The carbon dioxide concentration acquirer
101 monitors the state of the output signal through the lead wire
54, so that the concentration of carbon dioxide contained in the
exhalation of the subject 2 can be acquired as biological
information.
Namely, the first light-emitting element 51, the first
light-receiving element 52, the lead wires 53, 54, and the carbon
dioxide concentration acquirer 101 function as the carbon dioxide
sensor in the presently disclosed subject matter.
As shown in FIG. 2, the airway adaptor 10 of the embodiment further
includes a second light-emitting element 61 and a second
light-receiving element 62. The second light-emitting element 61 is
a light-emitting diode, and the first light-receiving element 62 is
a photodiode. When the insertion portions 31, 32 of the nasal
cannula 30 are inserted into the nostrils 4 of the subject 2, the
second light-emitting element 61 and the second light-receiving
element 62 are opposed to each other across the nasal septum 4a of
the subject 2.
The second light-emitting element 61 is placed in the gas passage
33 of the one insertion portion 31 of the nasal cannula 30. The
second light-receiving element 62 is placed in the gas passage 32
of the other insertion portion 32 of the nasal cannula 30. As
enlargedly shown in FIG. 3, the second light-emitting element 61
and the second light-receiving element 62 are supported by the
insertion portions 31, 32 through a support member 63,
respectively.
The support member 63 is a wire which extends along the inner walls
of portions 31a, 32a of the insertion portions 31, 32 which are
opposed to the nasal septum 4a. The second light-emitting element
61 and the second light-receiving element 62 are supported in end
portions of the support member, respectively.
The support member 63 is formed by a material which is plastically
deformable. Therefore, the member is deformed by application of a
force, and, when the force application is cancelled, maintains the
deformed shape. Namely, the support member 63 causes the portions
31a, 32a which are in the pair of insertion portions 31, 32, and
which are opposed to the nasal septum 4a, to function as a
plastically deformable portion.
As shown in FIG. 4, the second light-emitting element 61 and the
second light-receiving element 62 are communicably connected to an
arterial oxygen saturation acquirer 103 of the processing apparatus
100 through lead wires 64, 65, respectively. The arterial oxygen
saturation acquirer 103 is communicably connected to the controller
102.
As shown in FIG. 3, the lead wires 64, 65 extend along the gas
passages 33, 34 of the nasal cannula 30, and are drawn to the
outside through a draw-out port 37 formed in the basal end portion
35. The draw-out port 37 functions also as a ventilation port of
the nasal cannula 30.
In accordance with instructions from the controller 102, the
arterial oxygen saturation acquirer 103 outputs a light-emitting
signal. The light-emitting signal is supplied to the second
light-emitting element 61 through the lead wire 64, and light beams
(red and infrared light beams) each having a predetermined
wavelength are emitted from the second light-emitting element
61.
The light beams emitted from the second light-emitting element 61
transmit through the nasal septum 4a to be received by the second
light-receiving element 62. The second light-receiving element 62
is configured so as to output an output signal corresponding to the
intensities of the respective wavelength light beams, to the lead
wire 65.
The intensities of the respective wavelength light beams which
reach the second light-receiving element 62 differ depending on the
ratio of hemoglobin combined with oxygen in the blood flowing blood
vessels in the nasal septum 4a, and therefore also the state of the
output signal is changed. The arterial oxygen saturation acquirer
103 monitors the state of the output signal through the lead wire
65, so that the arterial oxygen saturation can be acquired as
biological information through a calculation process.
Namely, the second light-emitting element 61, the second
light-receiving element 62, the lead wires 64, 65, and the arterial
oxygen saturation acquirer 103 function as the arterial oxygen
saturation sensor in the presently disclosed subject matter.
As shown in FIG. 4, the second light-receiving element 62 is
communicably connected to a respiration/body temperature acquirer
104 of the processing apparatus 100 through the lead wire 65. The
second light-receiving element 62 has characteristics in which,
when the ambient temperature is raised, the dark current is
increased. Each time when the exhalation from the nostrils 4 passes
through the gas passage 34 of the nasal cannula 30, the dark
current is increased with increase in temperature. The
respiration/body temperature acquirer 104 monitors the value of the
dark current through the lead wire 65, so that at least one of the
respiratory condition and body temperature of the subject 2 can be
acquired as biological information.
Namely, the second light-receiving element 62, the lead wire 65,
and the respiration/body temperature acquirer 104 function as the
temperature sensor in the presently disclosed subject matter.
The respiration/body temperature acquirer 104 is communicably
connected to the controller 102. As required, the various kinds of
biological information which are acquired by the carbon dioxide
concentration acquirer 101, the arterial oxygen saturation acquirer
103, and the respiration/body temperature acquirer 104 are stored
in a storage apparatus (not shown) and/or displayed on a display
apparatus (not shown), by the controller 102.
According to the configuration of the embodiment, the placement of
the first light-emitting element 51 and first light-receiving
element 52 which operate as a part of the carbon dioxide sensor,
and that of the second light-emitting element 61 and second
light-receiving element 62 which operate as apart of the arterial
oxygen saturation sensor are completed simply by attaching the
airway adaptor 10 to the face 3 of the subject 2. Namely, the first
light-emitting element 51 and the first light-receiving element 52
are placed between the nostrils 4 and the mouth 5, and the second
light-emitting element 61 and the second light-receiving element 62
are opposed to each other across the nasal septum 4a.
Therefore, it is not necessary to attach the carbon dioxide sensor
and the arterial oxygen saturation sensor to respective separate
places of the body of the subject 2. Consequently, the labor of the
attaching work can be saved, and botheration felt by the subject 2
can be suppressed.
The second light-receiving element 62 can further operate as a part
of the temperature sensor. Therefore, the respiratory condition and
body temperature of the subject 2 can be acquired as biological
information without involving labor and botheration of attaching an
additional sensor.
In the embodiment, furthermore, the portions 31a, 32a which are in
the pair of insertion portions 31, 32, and which are opposed to the
nasal septum 4a are caused by the support member 63 to function as
a plastically deformable portion. Therefore, the support member 63
can be plastically deformed so as to extend along the shape of the
surface of the nasal septum 4a, by applying a force to the
insertion portions 31, 32 of the nasal cannula 30 in the state
where the second light-emitting element 61 and the second
light-receiving element 62 are opposed to each other across the
nasal septum 4a. Even after the force application is cancelled, the
support member 63 maintains the deformed shape, and therefore the
second light-emitting element 61 and the second light-receiving
element 62 can be prevented from being separated from the nasal
septum 4a. According to the configuration, the accuracy of the
measurement of the arterial oxygen saturation can be enhanced.
Next, an airway adaptor 10A of a biological information acquiring
system 1A of a second embodiment of the presently disclosed subject
matter will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. The
components which are identical, similar, or equivalent to those of
the airway adaptor 10 of the biological information acquiring
system 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference
numerals, and duplicated description is omitted.
As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 8, the biological
information acquiring system 1A of the embodiment is different from
the biological information acquiring system 1 of the first
embodiment in that a part of a nasal cannula 30A of the airway
adaptor 10A is connected to a pressure sensor 80 through branch gas
passages 38, and a processing apparatus 100A includes a respiratory
volume acquirer 105 and a body temperature acquirer 106.
As shown in FIG. 5, the nasal cannula 30A of the airway adaptor 10A
of the embodiment is different from the airway adaptor 10 of the
first embodiment in that the branch gas passages 38 which extend in
the lateral direction are disposed in front of the basal end
portion 35 of the pair of insertion portions 31, 32. As shown in
FIG. 6, the branch gas passages 38 communicate with the gas
passages 33, 34 which are formed in the respective interiors of the
insertion portions 31, 32, in the confluent portion 36.
Tubes 70 made of vinyl are detachably attached to the tip ends of
the branch gas passages 38, respectively. As shown in FIG. 8, the
tubes 70 are connected to the pressure sensor 80. Part of the
exhalation from the nostrils 4 of the subject 2 is guided to the
pressure sensor 80 through the tubes 70 via the branch gas passages
38. The pressure sensor 80 is configured so as to detect the
pressure variation which is caused in the tubes 70 by the passage
of the exhalation, and output a signal corresponding to the
pressure value.
As shown in FIG. 8, the pressure sensor 80 is communicably
connected to the respiratory volume acquirer 105 of the processing
apparatus 100A. The respiratory volume acquirer 105 monitors the
output signal of the pressure sensor 80 to perform a process,
whereby the respiratory condition and volume of the subject 2 can
be acquired as biological information.
Since information related to the respiratory condition can be
acquired by the pressure sensor 80 and the respiratory volume
acquirer 105, the output signal of the second light-receiving
element 62 functioning as a part of the temperature sensor is used
for acquiring the body temperature of the subject 2 as biological
information by the body temperature acquirer 106.
The respiratory volume acquirer 105 and the body temperature
acquirer 106 are communicably connected to the controller 102. The
various kinds of biological information which are acquired by the
carbon dioxide concentration acquirer 101, the arterial oxygen
saturation acquirer 103, the respiratory volume acquirer 105, and
the body temperature acquirer 106 are caused as required to be
stored in the storage apparatus (not shown) and/or displayed on the
display apparatus (not shown), by the controller 102.
According to the configuration of the embodiment, also the
respiratory volume of the subject 2 can be further acquired as
biological information simply by attaching the airway adaptor 10A
to the face 3 of the subject 2. Since the exhalation of the subject
2 for acquiring the respiratory volume is guided to the pressure
sensor through the branch gas passages 38 which are formed as a
part of the nasal cannula 30A, labor and botheration of attaching
an additional sensor are not involved.
Next, an airway adaptor 10B of a biological information acquiring
system 1B of a third embodiment of the presently disclosed subject
matter will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. The
components which are identical, similar, or equivalent to those of
the airway adaptor 10A of the biological information acquiring
system 1A of the second embodiment are denoted by the same
reference numerals, and duplicated description is omitted.
As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 11, the biological
information acquiring system 1B of the embodiment is different from
the biological information acquiring system 1A of the second
embodiment in that the configuration for acquiring the
concentration of carbon dioxide is not disposed. As shown in FIG.
10, gas passages 39 communicate with the gas passages 33, 34 which
are formed in the respective interiors of the insertion portions
31, 32, in the confluent portion 36.
The tubes 70 made of vinyl are detachably attached to the tip ends
of the branch gas passages 39, respectively. As shown in FIG. 11,
the tubes 70 are connected to the pressure sensor 80. Part of the
exhalation from the nostrils 4 of the subject 2 is guided to the
pressure sensor 80 through the tubes 70 via the branch gas passages
38. The process which acquires the respiratory volume as biological
information, and which is performed by the pressure sensor 80 and
the respiratory volume acquirer 105 of the processing apparatus
100A is similar in manner to that in the second embodiment, and
hence its description is omitted.
The various kinds of biological information which are acquired by
the arterial oxygen saturation acquirer 103, the respiratory volume
acquirer 105, and the body temperature acquirer 106 are caused as
required to be stored in the storage apparatus (not shown) and/or
displayed on the display apparatus (not shown), by the controller
102.
According to the configuration of the embodiment, the placement of
the second light-emitting element 61 and second light-receiving
element 62 which operate as a part of the arterial oxygen
saturation sensor is completed simply by attaching the airway
adaptor 10B to the face 3 of the subject 2. Namely, the second
light-emitting element 61 and the second light-receiving element 62
are opposed to each other across the nasal septum 4a. The second
light-emitting element 61 and the second light-receiving element 62
are supported by the nasal cannula 30B which guides exhalation of
the subject 2 to the pressure sensor 80. Although the embodiment
can acquire the arterial oxygen saturation, the respiratory volume,
and the body temperature as biological information, therefore, the
embodiment does not involve labor and botheration of attaching an
additional sensor.
Furthermore, the portions 31a, 32a which are in the pair of
insertion portions 31, 32, and which are opposed to the nasal
septum 4a are caused by the support member 63 to function as a
plastically deformable portion. Therefore, the second
light-emitting element 61 and the second light-receiving element 62
can be prevented from being separated from the nasal septum 4a, by
causing the support member 63 to be deformed so as to extend along
the shape of the surface of the nasal septum 4a. According to the
configuration, the accuracy of the measurement of the arterial
oxygen saturation can be enhanced.
The embodiments have been described in order to facilitate
understanding of the invention, and are not intended to limit the
invention. It is a matter of course that the invention may be
changed or improved without departing the spirit thereof, and
includes equivalents thereof.
The second light-emitting element 61 and the second light-receiving
element 62 are not always necessary to be placed inside of the gas
passages 33, 34 the pair of insertion portions 31, 32. These
elements may be placed on the outer circumferential surfaces of the
insertion portions 31, 32, respectively, as far as, when the
insertion portions 31, 32 are inserted into the nostrils 4 of the
subject 2, the insertion portions 31, 32 are disposed at positions
where the portions are opposed to each other across the nasal
septum 4a.
The support member 63 is not always necessary to be disposed along
the inner walls of the portions 31a, 32a of the insertion portions
31, 32 which are opposed to the nasal septum 4a. The member may be
disposed along the outer circumferential surfaces of the insertion
portions 31, 32, as far as at least the portions 31a, 32a are
plastically deformable. Alternatively, a configuration where the
member is embedded in the circumferential wall forming the
insertion portions 31, 32 may be employed.
The support member 63 is not always necessary to be a wire member.
As the support member, appropriate material and shape may be
selected, as far as they can cause the portions 31a, 32a of the
insertion portions 31, 32 which are opposed to the nasal septum 4a,
to be plastically deformable. Moreover, the support member 63 is
not always necessary to directly support the second light-emitting
element 61 and the second light-receiving element 62, as far as the
positions of the second light-emitting element 61 and the second
light-receiving element 62 can be maintained.
The biological information acquiring system of the presently
disclosed subject matter is requested to acquire at least one kind
of biological information in addition to the arterial oxygen
saturation. For example, the configuration for causing the second
light-receiving element 62 to operate as a part of the temperature
sensor may be omitted.
The pressure sensor 80 is not always necessary to be separately
disposed outside the processing apparatus 100 (100A, 100B), and may
be configured to be incorporated as a part of the processing
apparatus 100 (100A, 100B).
In the processing apparatus 100B in the third embodiment, a
configuration may be employed where a carbon dioxide sensor is
disposed in place of or in addition to the respiratory volume
acquirer 105, and the exhalation of the subject 2 flows into the
sensor through the tubes 70. In this case, the carbon dioxide
concentration in the exhalation of the subject 2 can be acquired as
biological information.
According to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter,
the placement of the carbon dioxide sensor, and that of the
light-emitting and light-receiving elements which operate as a part
of the arterial oxygen saturation sensor are completed simply by
attaching the airway adaptor to the face of the subject. Therefore,
it is not necessary to attach the carbon dioxide sensor and the
arterial oxygen saturation sensor to respective separate places of
the body of the subject. Consequently, the labor of the attaching
work can be saved, and botheration felt by the subject can be
suppressed.
According to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter,
the insertion portions of the nasal cannula can be plastically
deformed so as to extend along the shape of the surface of the
nasal septum, by applying a force to the insertion portions in the
state where the light-emitting and light-receiving elements are
opposed to each other across the nasal septum. Even after the force
application is cancelled, the insertion portions maintain the
deformed shape, and therefore the light-emitting and
light-receiving elements can be prevented from being separated from
the nasal septum. According to the configuration, the accuracy of
the measurement of the arterial oxygen saturation can be
enhanced.
According to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter,
in a case where a pressure sensor is further provided and the nasal
cannula includes a branch gas passage which is configured to guide
a pressure generated by the exhalation from the nostrils to the
pressure sensor, the respiratory condition and volume of the
subject of the subject can be acquired as biological information
without involving labor and botheration of attaching an additional
sensor.
According to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter,
in a case where the light-receiving element operates as a part of a
temperature sensor, the respiratory condition and body temperature
of the subject can be acquired as biological information without
involving labor and botheration of attaching an additional
sensor.
According to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter,
the placement of the nasal cannula for acquiring the respiratory
volume, and that of the light-emitting and light-receiving elements
which operate as a part of the arterial oxygen saturation sensor
are completed simply by attaching the airway adaptor to the face of
the subject. Therefore, it is not necessary to attach the nasal
cannula and the arterial oxygen saturation sensor to respective
separate places of the body of the subject. Consequently, the labor
of the attaching work can be saved, and botheration felt by the
subject can be suppressed.
According to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter,
the placement of the nasal cannula for acquiring the concentration
of carbon dioxide, and that of the light-emitting and
light-receiving elements which operate as a part of the arterial
oxygen saturation sensor are completed simply by attaching the
airway adaptor to the face of the subject. Therefore, it is not
necessary to attach the nasal cannula and the arterial oxygen
saturation sensor to respective separate places of the body of the
subject. Consequently, the labor of the attaching work can be
saved, and botheration felt by the subject can be suppressed.
* * * * *